Printing press and the like



y 1941- L. Q. PRESBY 2.248.897

PRINTING PRESS AND THE LIKE.

Filed Dec. 7, 1939 5 sheets-sheet l I nvez io y QPPGSb July 8, 1941. L. Q. PRESBY PRINTING PRESS AND THE LIEKE Filed Dec. 7, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L Invenvzm era .Pz'es I b 3 2 I .9 I 3! Kmar- H175 s L Q. PRESBY' July 1941.

PRINTING PRESS AND THE LIKE' Filed Dec. 7,- 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 QAM mh mm hm July'8, 1-941. Q. PRESBY PRINTING PRESS AND THE LIKE iFiled Dec. 7, 1939 5- Sheets-Sheet '4 I avail/Zak} es llezo July 8, I941.

L. 0.. PRESBY PRINTING PRESS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 7-, 1939 Patented has, 1941 H I 2,248,897

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

ramrma raass AND THE Lina Leroy Q. Presby, Melrose, Mesa, assignor to American Stay Company, East Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 7, 1939, Serial No. 307.9134

22 Claims. (CL 101-181) My invention relates to printing presses or the Fig. 11 is a sectionon the line ll-ll of Fig. 10. like, that is to say, apparatus for applying to a In the press diagrammatically shown by Fig. 1 web ink, colors, or uncolored liquid material to each printing couple comprises a print roll I' and form on the web printed characters, designs, an impression roll 3, the print roll, which may be coatings and the like asthe case may be. The b a rotogravure cylinder, dipping into an ink or invention is particularly applicable to so-called other fountain (not shown) so as to supply ink multi-coior printing presses. or the like to the web W as it passes between the The invention will be best understood from print and impression rolls. The web is unwound the following description when read in the light from a roll of web 5, and after being fed through of the accompanying drawings of an embodiment in the printing couples in seriesjis wound into a roll of the invention, the scope of which latter will be I, the printing couples and driving mechanism more particularly pointed out in the appended for the rewind reel acting to feed the web. It claims- 1 In the drawings: may be'of any suitable type to apply ink or coat- Fig. l is a diagram showing a four color print- 1 ing material to the web whether to print characing press with the web threaded through it in ters on it or coat it. I such way as to apply ink or the like to the same ,As shown, associated with the printing couple side of the web in each printing couple; adjacent the roll of web are a pair of web sup- Fig. 2 is a diagram of the same press as Fig. 1 porting and guide rolls land a second pair Ii,

. with the web threaded through it in such way while associated with a movable drier l3 for rewith parts omitted;

that the first printing couple applies ink or the ceiving the web as it comes from this first printwill be understood, however, that the print roll like to one side of the web, while the remaining ing couple is a roller II. By use of the two-rollthree printing couples all apply it tothe opposite ers 9 the web may be'so threaded through tlie side of the web; apparatus to pass it through the printing couple Fig. 3 is a further diagram of the press accordas shown in Fig. 1, or by use of the pair of rollers ing to Fig. 1 with the web threaded through it in II and roller I! may be so threaded through the suclr way that the first two printing couples apapparatus to pass it thmugh the printing couple ply ink or thelike to one and the same side of as shown in Fig. 2. As in each instance the print the web, while the remaining two printing couroll applies material tothe lower side'oi the par-- ples apply it to the opposite side of the web tion of the web contacting it, the side of the'web Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section, on an printed by this couple in Fig. 2 is opposite that enlarged scale, of the left hand end, portion of a printed in Fig. 1. v

press according to Fig. 1 taken along its medial As is hereinafter more fully described, the line, with parts omitted and parts shown more or printing couple adjacent the roll of web 5, and

less diagrammatically; the next successive couple, are each provided with Fig. 5 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a reverse mechanism for driving it in either of a fragment of the left hand end of the press acopposite directions, and are further provided with cording to Fig. 1, with parts omitted and parts do'ctor knives l1 and 19 which may be selectively shown more or less diagrammatically; employed. As shown in Fig.1, the extreme right Fig. 6 is a longitudinal medial section, on an mm printing couple is rotated counter-clockenlarged'scale, with parts in elevation, of one of wise, as indicated by the associated ,arrow, and the driers for the web; only the doctor knife l9 cooperateswith it. As

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the upper air cham- 4 shown in Fig. 2, the same printing couple is rober of the drier according to' Fig. 6, correspondtated clockwise, as indicated by the arrow, and ing to a sectionon the line I--'| of Fig. 6, with 4 only the doctor knife l'l cooperates'with it. parts omitted;

.The right hand drier l3 shown in Fig.- 1 has- Fig. 8 is aplan of a fragment of the-lower air associated therewith ,a roller 2| aboutwhich the chamber of the drier according to Fig. 6, correweb passes as it leaves the drier, and associated spending to a section on the line l8 of Fig. 6, with the second printing couple from the right as viewed in Fig. i are a roller 23 and a pair of Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9.'-9 of Fig. 6; rollers 25, while associated with the drier l3 for Fig. 10 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, the portion of the web printed by this second showing the gear shift and shiftable doctor knife printing couple is a second roller 15. By use ,of

mechanisms .for the reversible printing couples; the rollers 2| and 23 theweb may be passed and V l 5 through the second printing couple from right to left, as shown in Fig. 1, to print one side of the web, or by use of these same rollers and the pair of rollers 25 and the roller i5 may be passed through the printing couple from left to right, as shown in Fig. 3, to print its opposite side.

The web after leaving the second drier l3 passes over second rollers 2| and 23 through the third printing couple to a drier 21. Leaving this drier it is guided by the rollers 29 and 3| through the fourth printing couple. Leaving the fourth printing couple it passes through a drier 33 and is finally rewound at I. These third and fourth printing couples need not be: reversible and need be provided with but one doctor knife.

It will be observed that each printing couple prints on the under side of the portion of the web passing through it, and that therefore by having the first two printing couples reversible the apparatus illustrated can print four colors or the like on one side of the. web, as shown by Fig. 1, or one color on one side and three on the opposite side, as shown by Fig. 2, or two colors on one side and two on the opposite side, as shown by Fig. 3.

The general arrangement of mechanism and construction of the driers is as shown in applicants oo-pending application Serial Number 286,826, filed July 27, 1939, and therefore need not be described with any more particularity than necessary to explain the present invention.

As more fully illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9, the two driers !3 each comprise a casing 35 provided at each end with a slot 31 for entrance and exit respectively of the web. At the bottom of the casing is an elongated air chamber 39 having an upper generally concave face 6i, while at the upper portion of the casing is an elongated air chamber 43 having a lower generally concave face 45. Distributed along the faces M and 45 are transversely extending slots 41 for discharge of air against the web, air being forced into the air chambers by separate blowers 49 driven by electric motors 5!, the air entering the chambers being heated by suitable means, such as electric heating elements 53, so that the web will be acted upon by heated air.

In the space between the two air chambers of the driers l3 ar upper pairs of rollers 55 and lower pairs of rollers 51. The lower'pair is employed when the web is run through the driers in the way shown in Fig. 1. and the upper pair is employed when the web is run through the driers in the way shown in Fig. 3, while, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper pair of rollers is'employed in the right hand drier l3, and the lower pair of rollers in the adjacent drier l3. In each of these arrangements the web has that side thereof which is printed by the immediately preceding printing couple exposed to a draft of air, while the rollers contact with the unprinted side so as not to smear the wet ink. The motors 5l' may be, and preferably are, operated selectively to direct air only against the side of the web printed by the immediately preceding couple.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, each'drier l3 and 21 is pivotally supported at one end at 59 upon the frame 6! above the printing couples. Each drier may be swung vertically about its pivotal support by means of a rack 63 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the drier and meshes with a gear pinion (not shown) on a shaft 65 rotatably carried by the frame SI, this shaft being manually rotated by a handwheel 61. The details of the mechanism for adiustably swinging the driers about their pivotal supports 59 do not form part of the subject matter of this application, and therefore will not be further described. This mechanism, however, may be identical with that described in my above mentioned co-pending application.

As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the roller 2|, hereinbefore referred to, at the exit end of each drier is carried by the latter. At the entrance end of each drier is a roller 69 carried by the drier which is employed for guiding the web when it contacts with the lower rollers 51. It will be observed that when the parts are in the position shown by Figs. 1 and 5 the roller 69 for the drier I3 contacts with the upper side of the web. However, when the opposite side of the web is to be printed, as 'shown. at the first couple of Fig. 2, the drier is swung upwardly properly to position the roller I5 with relation to the couple,

and this moves the roller 69 out of the path of the web so that its wet printed side is not contacted by that roller. This arrangement is also illustrated in Fig. 6 in which the web W when in its full line position contacts with the roller 68, but when in its dotted line position is out application. -As shown, it comprises an elongated casing ll (Figs. 4 and 5), at the upper portion of one end of which is positioned an elongated air chamber 13 the lower wall 15 of which is provided with transverse slots 41, like those heretofore described, for directing heated air against the side of the web which has been printed in the last printing couple, air being forced into this chamber by means of a further blower 49 driven by a further electric motor 5|, and the web-being guided by rollers 14.

As illustrated, the casing of each of the driers I3 and 21 at its uppermost portion has anair discharge opening 16 connected by a conduit 11 to an adjacent opening 13 in the lower wall of the casing H of the drier 33. This conduit is of flexible material so as to permit the driers l3 to. be adjusted vertically about their pivotal supports 59 to accommodate the driers to print rolls 1 of difierent diameters, and for adjusting the positions of the rollers l5 and 69 of the driers [3. An exhauster 8| driven by an electricmotor 83 is connected by a conduit 85 to an opening 81 (Fig. 4) in the upper portion of the casing H for exhausting air from the casings of all the driers, so as to minimize or prevent discharge of air from the casing openings, as more fully explained in my above mentioned co-pending application.

The arrangement for driving the printing couples may be similar to that shown in applicants Patent 2,107,647, February 8, 1938, and therefore need not be further explained than necessary to show how it is adapted to the present invention.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5, 10 and 11, a common drive shaft 89 for all the couples extends lengthwise of the apparatus and is supported against longitudinal movement on the frames 9| for the several printing couples. Splined to the shaft at each "of the printing couples is a worm I 2,248,897 93 (Fig. 10), the opposite ends of which are closely embraced by the arms 94 of a yoke 95 slidably supported on the shaft for movement such way as to be held against longitudinal v movement and is screw-threaded through a lug IIlI integral with the yoke 95. Rotation of the shaft 89 therefore is effective to rotate all the worms simultaneously, but each worm may be adjusted independently of the other longitudinally of the shaft by rotation of the handwheel 99 associated with the worm for registering the colors or the like printed by the several couples.

As shown in Figs. 10. and 11, the frame 9| carries a fixed spindle I93 on-which is rotatably mounted a worm wheel I95 meshing with the associated worm 93. Fixed to the worm so as to rotate therewith is a gear 'wheelIIi'I, with which latter mesh gear wheels I09 and III positioned respectively at opposite sides of the spindle I93. The gear wheels I99 and III are of the same pitch diameter, and are rotatably mounted on spindles I I3 fixedly carried by a lever I I5 mounted for swinging on the spindle I03. Also caris rotatably mounted a gear wheel III of the same pitch diameter as the gear wheels I09 and the shaft I2I for the adjacent print roll' I, the

gear wheel I09 being out of mesh with the gear wheel II9. By swinging the handle portion I29 of the lever H5 upwardly, as viewed in Fig.10, the gear wheel I" will be moved out of mesh with the gear wheel H9, and the gear wheel I99 will be moved into mesh with the gear wheel H9. As the shaft 89 rotates the gear wheels I99 and II! in opposite directions, the last mentioned movement of the lever II5 will be effective to cause the print roll to rotate in the opposite direction to that in which it is rotated with the parts in the position shown by Fig. 10. Shifting the worm longitudinally of the shaft 89 may be availed of when the shaft is not rotating to turn the gear wheels I09 and HT slightly so as to position them to mesh properly with the gear .wheel II9 when the gears are shifted. When the shaft 89 is rotating. sliding the worm longitudinally of the shaft maybe availed of for properly registering the different colors or other matter applied to the web by the several couples. As shown, for securing the lever H5 inits adjusted positions it is provided with a slotted portion I29 through which extends a clamping bolt I21 threaded into the frame 9|.

It will be understood that asthe third and fourth couples need not be reversed the gear shift mechanism may be omitted at those couples, in which case the gear wheels III and II! may be omitted and the gear wheel I99 may be permanently in mesh with the gear wheel H9.

The mechanism for each of the spring pressed doctor knives i1 and I9, as illustrated in Fig. 10, is carried by horizontally slidable blocks I 29 mounted on the frame members 9| for the printing couples. These blocks may be slid horizontally by means of rotatable screws I3I turned by handwheels I33 so as selectively to move one or the other doctor knives into cooperation with the print roll. As the specific details of this mechanism form no part of the present invention it is believed that further description'of the same is unnecessary. a

It will be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, wide deviations may be made from the forms of the invention herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Printing apparatus or the like having, in combination, a rotary member for applying ink or the like to a web, means for selectively driving saidrotary member in either'of opposite directions, a drier for operating upon the web after operation thereon by said rotary member, and web supporting means for so guiding the web as to present it successively to said rotary member and drier, said supporting means being arranged to guide the web along selected paths for causing either side of the web to be selectively operated upon-bysaid rotary member and for supporting the webwhen presented to said drier at its side opposite that operated upon by said rotary member. v

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the web supporting means is so arranged that the web may be moved inthe same direction when 'ried by this lever is a third spindle II3'on which presented to said drier independently of whichside of the web is operated upon by said rotary member.

3. Apparatus according. to claim 1 in which the web supporting means comprises a group of supporting rollers associated with said rotary member and a' group thereof associated with said drier, which rollers of said groups are so arranged that the web may travel through different paths both when presented to said rotary member and when presented to said drier, the group of rollers associated with said drier being arranged to engage with one or the other side of the web, whereby the web may be passed in the same direction when presented to said drier independently of which side of the web is operated upon by said rotary member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the drier has means for causing a draft of air over the side of the web operated upon by the rotary member.

, 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the web supporting means is so arranged that the web may be moved in the same direction when presented to said drier independently of which side of tlieweb is operated upon by said rotary member, and the drier has means for causing a draft of air over the side of the web operated upon by the rotary member.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the web supporting means is so arranged that the web may be moved in the same direction when presented to said drier independently of which side of the web is operated upon by said rotary member; and the drier has means positioned at opposite sides of the path of the web for directing drafts of air toward the web, the means at either side of the web being operable to the exclusion of the means at the other side.

.7. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the-web supporting means comprises a web supporting element carried by the drier, the drier beingbodily adjustable for positioning said element. I

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the web supporting means comprises agroup of-s'upporting rollers associated with said rotary 'member and 'a group thereof associated with said drier, which rollers-of said group are so arranged that the web may travel through different paths both when presented to said rotary member and when presented to said drier, the group of rollers associated with said drier being arranged to engage with one or the other side of the web, whereby the web may be passed in the same direction when presented to said drier independently of which side of the web is operated upon by said rotary member, said group of rollers associated with said drier being carried thereby, said drier being bodily adjustable: for positioning said rollers of said group in proper relation to the path through which the web is to be guided. 1

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the web supporting means comprises a group of supporting rollers associated with said rotary memher and a group thereof associated with said drier, which rollers of said groups are so arranged that the web may travel through different paths both when presented to said rotary member and when presented to said drier, the group of rollers associated with said drier being arranged to engage with one or the other side of the web, whereby the web may be passed in the same directlon when presented to said drier independently of which side of the web is operated upon by said rotary member, said drier having a roller over which the web passes when one side thereof is operated upon by said rotary member, the drier being bodily adjustable for causing said roller to be out of contact with the web when the opposite side thereof is operated upon by said rotary member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the web supporting means is so arranged that the web-may be moved in the same direction when presented to said drier independently of which side of the web is operated upon by said rotary member, the drier comprising elongated chambers at opposite sides respectively of the path of travel of the web provided with slots for discharging air from the chambers toward the web, and means for supplying air to said chambers.

11'. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the web supporting means is so arranged that the web may be moved in the same direction when presented to said drier independently of which side of the web is operated upon by said rotary member, the drier comprising elongated chambers at opposite sides respectively of the path of travel of the web provided with slots for discharging air from the chambers toward the web, and means for supplying air to said chambers having provision for supplying air to each to the exclusion of the'other.

12. Printing apparatus or the like having, in combination, at least two spaced rotary members for successively applying ink or the like to a web, means for driving said rotary members having provision for driving one of them selectively in either of opposite diretcions for conditioning that rotary member to operate upon one or the other side of the web, web drying means for opcrating upon the web after operation thereon by each of said rotary members, and web supporting means for guiding the web to present it to said rotary members and web drying means; said supporting means having provision for so guiding the web along selected paths as to cause said rotary opposite directions at the side of the web opposite the selected side thereof operated upon by such rotary member.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the web drying means comprises separate driers for the portions of the web coming from each of said rotary members respectively, the drier forthe portion which comes from the'rotary member which may be driven in either of opposite directions carrying an element of the web supporting means and being bodily adjustable for positioning that element.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the web drying means comprises separate driers for the portions of the web coming from each of said rotary members respectively, said driers each having means for passing a draft of air over the side of the web which has been operated upon by the associated rotary member.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the web drying means comprisesseparate drlers for the portions of the web coming from each of said rotary members respectively, said drlers each having means for passing a draft of air over the side of the web which has been operated upon by the associated rotary member. the drier associated with the rotary member which may be driven in either of opposite directions having means which may be operated to pass a draft ofi air selectively over either side of the web to the? exclusion of the other. i

16. A printing press having, in combination, cooperating print and impression rolls, a rotary drive shaft, a worm on said shaft driven thereby,

a worm wheel meshing with said worm, a first to said first gear comprising a third gear rotated members either both to operate upon the same 7 side of the web or one to operate .upon one side in one direction and a fourth gear rotated in the opposite direction, which third and fourth gears are so mounted upon said member that swinging of the latter into one position is effective to mesh said third gear with said second gear to the exclusion. of said fourth gear, and swinging it into another position is effective to mesh said fourth gear with said second gear to the exclusion of said third gear, said worm being adjustably slidable along said shaft for rotating said third and fourth gears.

1'7; A printing press having, in combination, cooperating print and impression mils, a rotary drive shaft. gearing for connecting said drive shaft to said print roll comprising shiftable reverse gearing for causing said shaft to drive said print roll in either of opposite directions: said gearing comprising a gear in permanent driven relation to said shaft, a gear in permanent driving relation to said print roll, a third gear and a fourth gear both in permanent operative relation to one of said first mentioned gears and bodily shiftable about the. axis of that gear for meshing said third and fourth gears selectively with the other of said-first mentioned gears, said gear which is in permanent driven relation to said shaft being adapted to drive said third and fourth gears respectively in opposite directions, and means for angularly adjusting, relative to said shaft, said gear which is-in permanent driven relation to said shaft.

18. A printing press according to claim 17 in which the third and fourth gears. are carried by a single member which is movable for selectively meshing them with the gear specified by claim 17.

19. A drier for a webhaving a casing provided with openings for entrance and exit of the web. elongated spaced chambers in said casing in spaced relation to form a space through which including a shiftable reverse gearing and an axially adjustable worm having a worm wheel the web is passed, means for supporting the web in said space at one or the other side of the web, each chamber being provided with distributed openings for directing air against the web,

means for forcing air into said chambers having provision for forcing it into each to the exclusion of the other, and means for withdrawing air from said casing for minimizing discharge of air through the casing openings.

20. A printing press having, in combination.

cooperating print and impression rolls, a rotary driven shaft for said print roll, a rotary driving shaft, a gear train operatively connecting said driven shaft to said driving shaft, said gear train meshing therewith; whereby said print roll may be driven in either of opposite directions for the same direction of rotation of said driving shaft, and independently of the direction in which it is driven may be operatively angularly adjusted relative to said driving shaft.

21. A drier for a web having elongated drying means in opposed spaced relation to form a space through which the web is passed, and means for supporting the moving web at one or the other side thereof while passing through said space.

22. A drier according to claim 21 in which either drying means maybe operated to the exclusion of the other, the means for supporting the moving web having provision for supporting it exclusively at its side adjacent the drying means which is inoperative.

LEROY Q. PRESBY. 

